Author Topic: Fonzie's Motorcycle  (Read 12620 times)

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Offline 1974CB750rider

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Fonzie's Motorcycle
« on: August 11, 2009, 01:22:44 PM »
Does anyone know the exact year and model of any of the motorcycles that Fonzie rode on Happy Days? I have a thing for TV vehicles and would love to clone that bike but there's not any where that I can find that says what it was. All I've found out is one was some sort of Harley, one was a Triumph and one was a BSA but know where does it specify the exact year or model of any of these bikes. Just curious to see if anyone knows.
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Offline flybox1

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #1 on: August 11, 2009, 01:25:49 PM »
http://ask.yahoo.com/20030716.html

guess ya just gotta know who to ask.... ;)

also found this
"In the very early episodes, Fonzie rode custom Harley-Davidson models. In the later episodes he rides a Triumph motorcycle. Overall, the Fonz drove a variety of models including Harley Panhead, Harley Knucklehead, Harley Sportster, Triumph 500 CC Twin, Trophy 650 CC and a BSAHe."
« Last Edit: August 11, 2009, 01:27:43 PM by flybox1 »
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Offline 1974CB750rider

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #2 on: August 11, 2009, 01:29:58 PM »
Ah yes that part I did find out but the years are what I'm looking for
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Offline noahspop

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2009, 01:46:05 PM »
its funny you mention fonzi.
when i brought my bike home for the first time, my wife told me "hey fonzi, get that thing outta the garage the smells getting into the house.

trick is, let the bike cool down outside, then move it in the garage.

Offline CBGhia

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2009, 01:59:34 PM »
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fonzie

At one point they sold a model of him and a Triumph TR5 Trophy
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Offline CBGhia

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2009, 02:27:39 PM »


That looks like a Harley to me, but someone better versed in HD's would have to tell you what kind. 
this was his "early" bike.
CB550 Cafe, GL1000, Buell Ulysses
if you dont trial spin the camshaft in the head and cover you are a novice,with no natural mechanical appitude,destined for destruction.
"The cleaner the dipstick, the closer to God." -Rev. Horton Heat
“Faster, Faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death.”  - Hunter S. Thompson

Offline Frankencake

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2009, 03:31:17 PM »
The characters Henry Winkler has been playing lately have been great.  He played a deviantly gay, imbecile lawyer on Arrested Development.  He tends to do really funny roles these days.
"Sure, if you don't want that bike in your backyard, I guess I'll take it."  "I'll probably just scrap it......"

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2009, 03:34:47 PM »
The Triumph that Fonzie rode was a TR5 or Trophy (same bike known by 2 names).  The TR5 came out in 1949.  Fonzie's is a sprung hub model, that would put it in the range of 1949-1953.  If you are trying to replicate this motorcycle it will cost you some $$.  The TR5 is very collectible because most of them were used for off-road or dessert riding, that means survivors are rare and seldom stock or restorable.  The story goes that Henry Winkler couldn't actually ride the Knucklehead from the early episodes because he wasn't a motorcyclist so they got him a smaller bike to ride; The TR5.  This is the bike that Fonzie actually rides in the intro.  This is the bike most associated with Fonzie and would be most recognizable as the "Fonzie bike".  Fonzie's TR5 is not stock.  It has higher bars and the front fender is removed.  It looks like the tires have been changed to a less aggressive tread for street riding and the fuel tank has been painted.  Hard to tell but the seat may be smaller, same for the passenger seat.

Fonzies TR5


Restored TR5


Scott

Offline 1974CB750rider

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2009, 03:39:38 PM »
Cool, thinks for the info but like you said these go for big $$$$$$. I will start keeping my eyes open though. One can never tell when they'll be in the right place at the right time.
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Offline my78k

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2009, 04:48:13 PM »
Yeah but what water skis did he use to "jump the shark"????

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #11 on: August 11, 2009, 06:11:01 PM »
   THink they started him out on a Shovelhead but Henry Winkler wasn't strong enough to manage the bike so they switched him between a 500 Trophy and a 500 Tiger  .  At least that's the story I was fed .

Offline gane

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #12 on: August 11, 2009, 06:24:40 PM »
'74, You might research "Bud Ekins", (sp). Bud passed earlier this year, He was a Hollywood stuntman for years, (did the actual jump in "Great Escape") Was a friend of Steve McQueen, and provided bikes for many shows and movies, I've read he provided at least 1 of the Fonz's bikes. luck G

Offline Alan F.

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #13 on: August 11, 2009, 06:50:43 PM »
A quick search turned up these three, but they're not stock at all, although the first one isn't that far off...

http://ocala.craigslist.org/mcy/1290439363.html

http://boise.craigslist.org/mcy/1277928029.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/bar/1301240515.html

Offline 1974CB750rider

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #14 on: August 11, 2009, 07:06:36 PM »
I love the first one but like someone said earlier, these are big $$$. I do like the looks of that first bike though, I bet sounds great.
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Offline Popwood

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2009, 07:19:16 PM »
'74, You might research "Bud Ekins", (sp). Bud passed earlier this year, He was a Hollywood stuntman for years, (did the actual jump in "Great Escape") Was a friend of Steve McQueen, and provided bikes for many shows and movies, I've read he provided at least 1 of the Fonz's bikes. luck G

Bud Elkins . . . . I lived in Hollywood for a number of years and bought my first Honda (400 Hawk) from the dealership in Hollywood which I believe was owned by Elkins. To think I was roaming the showroom floor in the company of such a great . . . . Maybe it was!!
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Offline Caminokid

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #16 on: August 11, 2009, 08:02:24 PM »
The Triumph is the bike everyone remembers the most. Had one just like the one he rode in the later episodes. I wish I had that bike back.
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Offline Flying J

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #17 on: January 02, 2011, 04:11:11 PM »
The fonz rode a cb750

Offline y2kc0wb0y

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Re: Fonzie's Motorcycle
« Reply #18 on: January 02, 2011, 04:40:47 PM »
Holy Dead Thread Batman...WWFD?
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